What makes the evidence for the siege of Lachish unique in biblical history?
The ensuing siege of Lachish is unique in the history of antiquity in that it is recounted in multiple sources: the Old Testament; Sennacherib’s Assyrian annals; and depictions in the magnificent bas-reliefs carved for Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh. Modern archaeology has added even more detail to the story.
What did Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal build?
City plan of Nineveh (left) and a close-up of the Kuyunjik mound (right), where Sennacherib’s palace was constructed. The northern palace depicted on the map was first built during the reign of Sennacherib’s grandson Ashurbanipal.
Why is the siege of Lachish important?
Judean captives being led away into slavery by the Assyrians after the siege of Lachish in 701 B.C. This relief is important for the knowledge of Judean dress. The fall of Lachish, King Sennacherib reviews Judaean prisoners.
Why was Lachish important?
In the first half of the 9th century BCE, under the Judahite kings Asa and Jehoshaphat, Lachish became an important city in the kingdom. It was heavily fortified with massive walls and ramparts and a royal palace was built on a platform in the center of the city.
What is the significance of the Lachish letters?
The letters also contain informational reports and requests from Hoshaiah to his superior. The letters were probably written shortly before Lachish fell to the Babylonian army of King Nebuchadnezzar II in 588/6 BC during the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah (ref. Jeremiah 34:7).
What was Sennacherib known for?
King Sennacherib was the king of Assyria between 705 B.C. to 681 B.C.. He is known for his military campaigns against Babylon and the Hebrew kingdom of Judah, as well as for his building projects, especially in the city of Nineveh. Sennacherib was assassinated in 681 B.C., possibly by his sons.
Who is Sennacherib and what did he do?
Sennacherib, Akkadian Sin-akhkheeriba, (died January 681 bce, Nineveh [now in Iraq]), king of Assyria (705/704–681 bce), son of Sargon II. He made Nineveh his capital, building a new palace, extending and beautifying the city, and erecting inner and outer city walls that still stand.
Why are the Lachish reliefs important?
The relief was created for the walls of the great palace of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, in Nineveh. Lachish was just one city that fell in a long series of wars that saw many people shifted from their homelands and put to work on such projects as building Sennacherib’s palace.
What did Sennacherib do in the Siege of Lachish?
It may be added that the graphic depiction of the siege of Lachish is not unique, as panels depicting Sennacherib’s other victories were also found on his palace walls. These include his campaigns in the marshlands around the Gulf, and the siege of a city in the mountains of Armenia or Persia.
Is the Siege of Lachish written by the victors?
It is often said that “History is written by the victors,” but the siege of Lachish is different from many other ancient battles in that we have information about this event from the perspective of both the victors (the Assyrians) and the losers (the Israelites).
Why was the city of Lachish so important?
During the 10th century BC, Lachish was established as an Israelite settlement. Following the split of the Kingdom of Israel into Judah and Israel, Lachish became an important site, as it was the largest city on the western border of the Kingdom of Judah facing the Philistines of the Coastal Plains.
When was the Canaanite settlement at Lachish established?
During the 2nd millennium BC, a Canaanite settlement was established at Lachish. The 14th century Amarna Letters (also referred to as the Amarna Correspondence or Amarna Tablets) shows that the Lachish was a subject of the Egyptians.